Mule boys beat Bulldogs, fall to Pirates, Vikings

The Wahkiakum Mules boys basketball team won one game at home this week and lost two on the road, bringing their overall record to 2-3.

On Thursday, the Mules hosted Stevenson and won 66-50.

"We got off to a really good start, and shot the ball well," Coach Todd Souvenir said. "Too many turnovers kept Stevenson in the game. It was much closer than it should have been. We've got to cut down turnovers and second chance opportunities, regardless of who we play."

Zakk Carlson led the team with 22 points. Brodie Avalon chipped in 16 points and Dom Curl had 13. Titan Niemela scored six points and pulled down nine rebounds. Jacob Johnson had four points and seven assists. Kyler Sause had four points and Braden Avalon finished the game with one.

Stevenson 22 6 16 6 --50

Mules 19 16 15 16 --66

The next day the Mules were on the road to Willapa Valley, where they lost a close game, 64-60.

"We got off to a good start offensively," Coach Souvenir said. "It was a really competitive game from start to finish. We just settled in that game for too many threes. We've got to inside a little more and finish at the rim more consistently. They have some guys at the post that played physical and they had some shooters. They are very similar to us with a little more physicality inside. It was a good, fun, competitive non-league to prepare us for league.

"Tanner Collupy stepped up and did all the little things for us. He knows his role and plays good defense, rebounds. He does all the dirty work. In those last couple games, we wouldn't have been in the game if it wasn't for him stepping up and doing those little things."

The Mules shot eight for 35 threes against Valley.

Brodie Avalon had 22 points, Johnson added 13. Carlson had 12 and Sause scored 11. Niemela scored two points.

Mules 19 10 14 17 --60

Willapa 15 15 10 24 --64

On Monday, the team traveled to Adna and lost a tough game to the Pirates, 87-47.

"They have some awesome shooters," Coach Souvenir said. "They only lost one player from last year. From the first quarter on, we were down 20, and it kind of opened up in the fourth quarter, but I still think it was a good game for us, and we could learn a lot from that team. They move the ball well, and definitely have some shooters."

"Kyler [Sause] stepped up in the second half and scored six points in the post. I thought he did a good job in the second half of that game," Coach Souvenir added.

Carlson scored 15 points. Brodie Avalon had 14 points and nine boards. Sause scored six, Niemela and Curl added five points apiece, and Braden Avalon finished with two points. Johnson had five assists.

Mules 16 14 12 5 --47

Adna 25 27 16 19 --87